Method for communications using a communication protocol

ABSTRACT

A method, system and type of database for transmitting data is disclosed in which the data is organized into a structured linear database. The structured linear database includes a routing header portion, a file allocation table, a data portion and a tailbit portion. The structured linear database may be transmitted over any type of network, such as a TM-UWB system or a fiber-optic system. Once the data to be transmitted is identified, a corresponding field is identified in the field allocation table giving the location of the data within the transmission. This field is then referenced by the user to access the specific type of data desired at the given location of the transmission. this process may be repeated enabling data to be stored on transmission lines and accessed at any point at any time providing an always on network.

This application claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 10/602,125filed Jun. 23, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.No. 09/698,793, filed Oct. 27, 2000, now Pat. No. 6,868,419 which isbased on U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 60/162,094 filed Oct. 28,1999, 60/163,426 filed Nov. 3, 1999, and 60/220,749, filed Jul. 26,2000, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the formatting of data into adatabase to create a structured linear database which may be transmittedand received. More particularly, although not exclusively, the presentinvention relates to a structured linear database and method forcreation thereof based upon the formatting of time modulated ultra wideband repeating complex coded pulses in order to provide a commonplatform for simultaneous transmission and/or storage of streaming andnon-streaming data. The present invention is designed to provideuniversal data interchange across different operating systems andsoftware applications.

2. Problems in the Art

Currently, information can be accessed through a variety of media suchas the Internet, radio, telephone, and television. Each of these mediahowever uses a different device in technology to deliver theinformation. As an increasing amount of information becomes digital,different devices are capable of accessing the same information. Forexample, an Internet webpage can be accessed from a computer, atelevision, and cell phones. Yet our society depends largely only oncomputers to store and manipulate data. In order to do this, computersuse a variety of operating systems, application software,telecommunication protocols and storage mediums. There is therefore aneed to provide a method of transmitting data which may be easilyunderstood by any form of communication. There is also a need for astructured transmission platform which provides for the simultaneoustransmission of streaming and non-streaming data.

This has forced the telecommunication industry to develop aninterconnected variety of networks to provide all of the variousservices. A variety of methods exists to accomplish this goal, such asthe copper based hard-wire network, microwave relays, satellite relays,fiberoptic based hard-wire networks and radio telephony. However,fiberoptic based networks are fast becoming the de facto standard forthe hard-wire portion of the telecommunications system. These fiberopticnetworks provide a high speed, high volume medium for thetelecommunication of radio, voice, t.v., and data signals both locallyand globally. Further, recent advances in the ability to codeinformation on to more discrete colors of light are increasing thecapacity of existing fiberoptic networks by orders of magnitude. Analmost infinite number of wavelengths of light could pass through afiberoptic cable, making data flow literally “at the speed of light”.The need to telecommunicate Internet, radio, voice, t.v., and other datais driving the demand for a higher capacity in the fiberoptictelecommunications network.

However, the current costs of bringing fiberoptics the “last mile” to ahome or business is very high. In addition, consumers want the abilityto access data on the move. Current wireless systems cannot address boththe “last mile” need and the need to access data on the move. Some suchsystems are simply not compatible with the security and speed offiberoptics. Others, such as micro-wave systems, are not practical forresidential or small business applications, and are not compatible withmobile users because direct line of sight between the user and tower isrequired. There is therefore a need for a wireless system that overcomesthe “last mile” problem, is compatible with the speed and security offiberoptics, and can be used globally by mobile users.

In departing radically from traditional wireless radio techniques,impulse radio or time modulation is a recent innovation in radio signaltransmissions. Time Domain, Inc. has developed a impulse radio systemwhich incorporates time modulated, ultra wide band technology (TM-UWB).Impulse radio systems are described in a series of patents, includingU.S. Pat. Nos. 5,952,956 and 5,363,108 to Fullerton et al., and U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,832,035; 5,812,081; and 5,677,927 all to Fullerton. Thesepatents are herein incorporated by reference.

A TM-UWB system places individual pulses at very precise, repeatabletime intervals and transmits the pulses across a ultra wide bandspectrum. These digital pulses are low power, produce noise-likesignals, are self-identified by their timing sequence, and are capableof having data injected on to the timing sequence. This pulse technologyallows for secured transmission of data, video, and voice at extremelyhigh-speed transmission rates.

Historically however, the only way to transmit radio signals such asvoice, music, t.v., and other data has been via continuously oscillatingradio waves. Digital pulse technology uses impulse transmitters to emitultra short Gaussian monocycle pulses with a tightly controlled pulse topulse interval instead of radio waves. IBM Microelectronics Corporationhas developed two proprietary chips which are fabricated from advancedsilicon germanium for use in TM-UWB transmitters and receivers. Thissemiconductor material has allowed the chip to precisely controlpulsation timing and correlation to within a few pico-seconds. New chipsare being developed to precisely control pulsation timing to correlationto within a few femto-seconds. This would represent up to a 1,000 timesincrease in relative speed of data that would be transmitted per secondover the current pico-second chips.

Further, these monocycles are resistant to multi-path fading and provideextremely high data transmission rates. Each digital pulse has a neutralposition or can represent a one or a zero, and is not frequencydependent, and therefore may be transmitted across an ultra-widespectrum. TM-UWB pulse technology offers a viable solution to datatransmission because it does not compete with the currently crowdedradio wave spectrums. This technology also provides a large number ofoperational capabilities beyond traditional oscillating radio wavetransmission systems. A basic discussion of impulse radio and how itworks can be referenced in an article entitled “Impulse Radio Wave: HowIt Works” published by IEEE Communications Letters, Volume 2, No. 2,February, 1998. This article specifically explains the rationale forimpulse radio technology, and the ability to employ this technology tosolve many of the different problems encountered using wirelesstransmissions indoors. Additional discussions of the robustness ofTM-UWB signal use can be referenced in an article entitled “Ultra-WideBand With Signal Propagation for Indoor Wireless Communications”published in June, 1997, from the IEEE International Conference onCommunications, Montreal, Canada. All of these articles are hereinincorporated by reference.

One of the great beneficial characteristics of TM-UWB technology issecurity. Due to the astounding number of possible combinations oftiming sequences, it is statistically impossible to decode this type ofinformation transmission unless the required complex code is used bothby transmitting and receiving devices. Another by-product of thetremendous number of combinations is the unlikely chance for signalinterference. The signals are so random and low powered that they areindistinguishable from background noise. Another beneficialcharacteristic of the combination is that it operates at very low powerspectral densities and does not need a power amplifier for signaltransmissions. TM-UWB systems will consume substantially less power thanexisting conventional radios. Further, hardware needed for such systemsis relatively simple to manufacture and at substantially less cost thanwhat is currently required to build spread spectrum radios and relatedequipment.

There is therefore a need for a system based upon TM-UWB repeatingcomplex coded pulses that provides a common platform for universal datainterchange between different computer operating systems, softwareapplications, and electronic devices, is a combined protocol fortransmission and data storage, and is further capable of beingtransmitted wirelessly on a telecommunications network at very highspeeds with great security.

FEATURES OF INVENTION

A general feature of the present invention is the provision of astructured linear database which overcomes the problems in the priorart.

A further feature of the present invention is to provide structure totime modulated ultra wide band repeating, complex, coded pulses tocreate a linear database.

Another feature of the present invention to provide a structured lineardatabase for use as a single carrier for simultaneous transmission ofstreaming and non-streaming data.

A still further feature of the present invention is to provide a commonplatform for computers, PDAs, and other devices to interchange streamingand non-streaming data across any operating system or softwareapplication by identifying the type of structured linear database thatis being accessed.

Another feature of the present invention is to utilize TM-UWB impulseradio networks to telecommunicate streaming data using a structuredlinear database.

Another feature of the present invention is to utilize TM-UWB impulseradio networks to telecommunicate non-streaming data using a structuredlinear database.

Another feature of the present invention is to utilize fiber opticnetworks to telecommunicate streaming data using a structured lineardatabase.

Another feature of the present invention is to utilize fiber opticnetworks to telecommunicate non-streaming data using a structured lineardatabase.

A still further feature of the present invention is to utilizetraditional radio frequency networks to telecommunicate streaming datausing a structured linear database.

Another feature of the present invention is to utilize traditional radiofrequency networks to telecommunicate non-streaming data using astructured linear database.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of providingstructure to streaming data in the form of a structured linear databaseusing TM-UWB repeating, complex, coded pulses.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of providingstructure to non-streaming data in a structured linear database usingTM-UWB repeating, complex, coded pulses.

A further feature of the present invention is the provision oftelecommunicating structured linear databases which are highly secure.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision oftelecommunicating structured linear databases at high speed.

A still further feature of the present invention is the provision of apre-packaged structured linear database for use as a telecommunicationdata packet.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of using alinear database as the common platform for streaming and non-streamingdata in a universal data tone system.

A still further feature of the present invention is the provision ofusing a structured linear database as a storage media.

It is an object of the present invention in streaming data applicationsto reserve a portion of the repeated, complex coded pulses forstructured linear digital databases.

It is an object of the present invention to structure data in a lineardigital database and concurrently transmit it utilizing TM-UWB radiotelephony networks and/or fiber optic networks using TM-UWB-typerepeated, complex coded pulses.

It is an object of the present invention to use TM-UWB-type repeated,complex coded pluses as a repeated, structured linear digital databasein a TM-UWB radio-telephony network and/or fiber optic network.

It is an object of the present invention to use the spaced in TM-UWBand/or TM-UWB-type repeated, complex code pluses to represent digitalinformation (0 or 1), or a neutral position.

These, as well as other features and advantages of the presentinvention, will become apparent from the following specification andclaims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a comprehensive method, based on TM-UWBtechnology, for the secure, high speed, wireless transmission andstorage of data. The present invention relates to a structured lineardatabase which provides a common platform for simultaneous transmissionof streaming and non-streaming data. This platform is designed to allowfor universal data interchange between different operating systems,software applications, and electronic devices.

The present invention provides a common platform for universal datainterchange, for simultaneous transmission of streaming andnon-streaming data, based on time modulated ultra wideband (TM-UWB)repeating, complex, coded pluses. The present invention also providesfor high-speed, secure transmission of structured linear databases overa variety of networks, either wireless and/or hard-wired.

As previously discussed, TM-UWB is a wireless technology that transmitsvery low power radio signals with very short pulses using very widesignal bandwidths. The pulses are transmitted at ultra precise, nearlyrandom intervals, and frequencies to convey data using a techniquecalled pulse position modulation. The entire TM-UWB pulse train, whichmay contain ten to 60 million pulses, repeats every second, or on someother regular interval. By dividing the TM-UWB pulse train intopre-determined, recognizable segments containing four basic types ofdivisions: 1) a routing header division; 2) LFAT (Linear File AllocationTable) division; 3) data storage and transmission division(s); and 4) aTailbit division, a structured linear database is formed.

A unique feature of this technology is pluses are digitally independentwhich allow radio, TV, voice and data to be telecommunicatedconcurrently with the complex coded pulse stream.

The routing header division is reserved for telecommunication packetrouting and protocol information, just as current telecommunicationpackets do.

These routing header subdivisions may used by a variety of transmissioncontrol protocols, such as but not limited to, file transfer protocol,link access protocol, balanced file transfer access method, productdefinition interchange format, asynchronous transfer mode, thetransmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP), or thegeoposition based transmission control protocol described in AttachmentB of U.S. Provisional Patent Application, Ser. No. 60/220,749 to Melick,et al, previously incorporated by reference.

The LFAT division is reserved and acts as an identifier that points toparticular decoding templates. These templates may be one of manystandard templates, or may be proprietary. These templates may be usedto decode personal information, medical information, school records,manufacturing information, etc., contained in the data storage andtransmission division(s) of the structured linear database. The datastorage and transmission division(s) may be further subdivided. Thedecoding templates will identify for each subdivision in the storage andtransmission division(s), the field name, field length, and the startand end position of each subdivision in the linear database. It is thecombination of field names related to the position of data in eachsubdivision that allows for universal data interchange between differentoperating systems, software applications, and electronic devices.

The data storage and transmission division(s) of a structured lineardatabase reserves pre-determined segments of a TM-UWB pulse train to actas a common platform for simultaneous use of any, or all, of thefollowing: Internet, voice communication, radio transmission, HDTV anddigital TV transmission, and/or raw data. These pre-determined segmentscreate a “multi-channel effect” using only one repeating, complex, codedTM-UWB pulse train. These coded pulses can also be used as a new storagemedium for data when the pulse positions are pre-modulated in the TM-UWBtemplate for digital encoding. Repeating, structured linear databasesare designed to become the wireless electronic link in wireless/fibernetworks that seek to offer what is known in industry as data streams,digital DNA, or universal data tone.

The last subdivision in a structured linear database is reserved for atailbit which signifies the end of a telecommunication packet, just ascurrent telecommunication packets do.

Structured linear databases may be transmitted on fiber optic networkswhich are very secure, and very high speed. They may also be transmittedwireless on TM-UWB digital, impulse radio pulses which provided highsecurity, high speed, wireless communication capabilities, or acombination of both networks. They may also be transmitted wireless ontraditional radio frequency (RF) carriers. or non-fiber optic hard-wirednetworks, which are not as secure, or in some cases as high atransmission rate as TM-UWB.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING AND CHARTS

FIG. 1 is flowchart showing a method of transmitting data using astructured linear database.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described as itapplies to its preferred embodiment. It is not intended that the presentinvention be limited to the described embodiment. It is intended thatthe invention cover all modifications and alternatives which may beincluded within the spirit and scope of the invention.

The present invention is statistically secure using repeating, complexcoded pulses. It is also very high speed comprised of ten million to 60million pulses per second. This is a repeating digital stream of pulses,with each pulse representing a 0, 1, or neutral position, within thestructured linear database. A structured linear database provides for acommon platform for simultaneous transmission of streaming andnon-streaming data, and universal data interchange.

Shown in FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a method of transmitting datausing a structured linear database. A person, or user 1 100 can use astructured linear database enabled device, such as PC 110, a PDA 111, ora cell phone 112, which includes simple programming instructing thedevices to read incoming data as a structured linear database, commonlyknown as a driver program. Using a driver program with a device, User 1100 can check their e-mail, retrieve a Word document, spreadsheet, orother electronic file, access an Internet website, listen to any radiostation broadcast or any archived music, watch any TV broadcast orarchived show, carry on a phone conversation, or exchange data storedwithin a structured linear database, etc., anytime or anywhere.

The structured linear database (LDB), according to the preferredembodiment of the present invention, provides a common platform for thesimultaneous synchronous and/or non-synchronous telecommunication ofstreaming and non-streaming data. Streaming data is defined as thetechnique for transferring data such that it can be processed as asteady and continuous stream. Streaming technologies are becomingincreasingly important with the growth of the Internet because mostusers do not have fast enough access to download large media contentfiles quickly. With streaming data, the client browser or plug-in canstart displaying the data before the entire file has been transmitted.For streaming data to work, the client side receiving the data must beable to collect the data and send it as a steady stream to theapplication that is processing the data and converting it to sound orpictures. This means that if the client is receiving the streaming datamore quickly than required for display, it needs to save the excess datain a data buffer. If the data doesn't come quickly enough, however, thepresentation of the data will not be smooth. There are a number ofcompeting streaming technologies emerging. For audio data on theInternet, the de facto standard is Progressive Network's RealAudio.Streaming data is not limited to multimedia files, but would alsoinclude telephone conversations, live TV and radio broadcasts.Conversely, in the present invention, non-streaming data would includefiles such as a Microsoft Word document, or Excel spreadsheet to name afew.

LDBs are also capable of storing data as part of the repeating, complex,coded pulse train when pulse positions are pre-modulated and identifiedby their positions. The present invention is preferably uses a timemodulated ultra wide band (TM-UWB) repeating, complex, coded pulsetrain. TM-UWB provides each user a personal, specific, repeating,complex, coded pulse train to transmit and receive data using a widevariety of device(s) as previously described. The specifically codedLDBs are depicted in FIG. 1 as First LDB 121, Second LDB 122, Third LDB123, Fourth LDB 124, and Fifth LDB 125. Only one device, PC 110, PDA111, or cell phone 112 or the telecommunications interface 130 canoriginate a specific structured linear database. The originating sourcegenerating a specific structured linear database is referred to as themaster. All other devices, PC 110, PDA 111, or cell phone 112, or thetelecommunications interface 130 are read-only, and must communicatethrough the master to write changes to data contained within thestructured linear database.

Users, such as User 1 100 can access either a local or remote structuredlinear database. A User l's 100 structured linear database enableddevices, PC 110, PDA 111, and cellphone 112 are all assigned the sameFirst LDB 121. Locally, this allows any device, PC 110, PDA 111, or cellphone 112 assigned to user 1 100 to universally access and exchange databetween each other.

The following is an example of accessing a remote data file, such as aMicrosoft Word document, from data source 143, which may be a web serveron which the file is stored. The devices, PC 110, PDA 111, or cell phone112 use LDB 121 to communicate a request to a telecommunicationsinterface 130 to access the remote data file, stored on data source 143.The telecommunications interface 130 uses header information to routethe request via fiber optic, or wirelessly via TM-UWB, to access theremote data file stored on data source 143. The remote data file storedon data source 143 is telecommunicated back to a telecommunicationsinterface 130 using the Third LDB 123 which is associated with datasource 143. The telecommunications interface 130 writes the remote datafile that is contained in the Third LDB 123 to the First LDB 121, whichis decoded by device PC 110, PDA 111, or cell phone 112.

A TM-UWB chip integrated into device PC 110, PDA 111, or cell phone 112is designed to telecommunicate the First LDB 121 repeating, complex,coded TM-UWB pulse structure, and to use the linear file allocationtable (LFAT) contained within the First LDB 121, which is furtherdescribed in Chart 1 below, to decode and interpret the data. The LFATcan also use encoded-vector indices for decision suppor and warehousingas disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,495 to Chadha et al. which is hereinincorporated by reference. The entire sequence described above can becarried out cyclically to access large files of remote streaming and/ornon-streaming data.

Other sources of data use their specific LDB such as, media source 142uses Second LDB 122, data source 143 uses Third LDB 123, e-mail source144 uses Fourth LDB 124, and User 2 uses Fifth LDB 125 totelecommunicate data.

Chart 1 is an example of a personal structured linear database used fortelecommunicating and storing streaming and non-streaming data.

Chart 1

PULSE NUMBER (Start-End) FIELD  1 to 500 Routing Address HeaderDivision— Originator  501 to 1,000 Routing Address Header Division—Destination 1,001 to 10,000 Linear File Allocation Table (LFAT) Division  10,001 to 30,010,000 Data Storage and Transmission Division Comprisedof: Internet Subdivisions TV Subdivisions Radio Subdivisions VoiceSubdivisions Data Subdivisions Unallocated Subdivisions 30,010,001 to30,010,500  Tailbit Division

Note, the pulse numbers shown in Chart 1 are used for illustrativepurposes only. The number of pulses in each field are reserved anddependent upon the amount of space required for that field.

In Chart 1, pulses 1 to 500 are reserved for the routing address headerdivision of the originator. Pulses 501 to 1,000 are reserved for therouting address header division for the destination. The routing addressheader may use any addressing protocol, such as Internet Protocoladdresses, IEEE 802 addresses.

Pulses 1,001 to 10,000 are reserved for the linear file allocation table(LFAT) division. The LFAT serves two functions.

First, the LFAT identifies the specific type of structured lineardatabase that is being accessed. There are three basic types ofstructured linear databases known by the driver program, one forstreaming data, one for non-streaming data, and one for combiningstreaming and non-streaming data. Within these three basic types thereare various ways to structure the divisions depending on the use orcontent. As an example, in Chart 1 a standard personal structured lineardatabase contains subdivisions for accessing the Internet, TV, radio,voice, data, and an unallocated space. Each personal structured lineardatabase would contain the same divisions and subdivisions, each beingthe same length, each beginning and ending in the same space within thepulse train. The LFAT identifies any standard or proprietary structuredlinear database format. As a short cut, a code could be used to identifyany standard type of structured linear database, or the LFAT couldcontain the necessary information to construct the format for anystandard or proprietary structured linear database.

Second, if data is stored within the structured linear database, theLFAT will provide the decoding template to access the data in thesubdivisions. As a short cut, a code could be used to identify anystandard data format known by the driver program, or the LFAT couldcontain the necessary information to construct the data format for anystandard or proprietary structured linear database. Chart 2 illustratesa typical decoding template for accessing data stored within astructured linear database. The decoding template may be on a localhard-drive, or on a network server. Each device as shown in FIG. 1, PC110, PDA 111, or cell phone 112 would use a set of rules organized in adata interface to reformat the data automatically for display or use foreach device, PC 110, PDA 111, or cell phone 112 shown in FIG. 1.

Pulses 10,001 to 30,010,000 are the data storage and transmissiondivision reserved for streaming and non-streaming data. The subdivisionsinclude Internet, TV, radio, voice, data, and an unallocatedsubdivision. The unallocated subdivision is reserved for future use. Thedata storage and transmission division will be subdivided intorepeating, constant duration time slots. The duration of these timeslots will designed as is appropriate to take advantage of TM-UWBwireless and fiber optic transmission capabilities, and the performanceof computers or other electronic devices that are enabled to usestructured linear databases. However, it is important to note thatstructured linear databases may be carried over any wireless, orhard-wired medium. Chart 2 is an detailed example of the repeating,constant length subdivisions of the data storage and transmissiondivision of Chart 1. Of course, standardized subdivisions would have tobe set up by a unifying body.

Chart 2

PULSE NUMBER (Start-End) FIELD   10,001 to 1,000,000 Internetsubdivision 1,010,001 to 2,010,000 TV subdivision 2,010,001 to 3,010,000Radio subdivision 3,010,001 to 4,010,000 Voice subdivision 4,010,001 to5,010,000 Data storage subdivision 5,010,001 to 6,010,000 Unallocatedsubdivision 6,010,001 to 7,010,000 Internet subdivision 7,010,001 to8,010,000 TV subdivision 8,010,001 to 9,010,000 Radio subdivision 9,010,001 to 10,010,000 Voice subdivision 10,010,001 to 11,010,000 Datastorage subdivision 11,010,001 to 12,010,000 Unallocated subdivision12,010,001 to 13,010,000 Internet subdivision 13,010,001 to 14,010,000TV subdivision 14,010,001 to 15,010,000 Radio subdivision 15,010,001 to16,010,000 Voice subdivision 16,010,001 to 17,010,000 Data storagesubdivision 17,010,001 to 18,010,000 Unallocated subdivision 18,010,001to 19,010,000 Internet subdivision 19,010,001 to 20,010,000 TVsubdivision 20,010,001 to 21,010,000 Radio subdivision 21,010,001 to22,010,000 Voice subdivision 22,010,001 to 23,010,000 Data storagesubdivision 23,010,001 to 24,010,000 Unallocated subdivision 24,010,001to 25,010,000 Internet subdivision 25,010,001 to 26,010,000 TVsubdivision 26,010,001 to 27,010,000 Radio subdivision 27,010,001 to28,010,000 Voice subdivision 28,010,001 to 29,010,000 Data storagesubdivision 29,010,001 to 30,010,000 Unallocated subdivision

All subdivision transmissions are started at the beginning of one of theconstant duration time slots. By a rule, a subdivision transmission maybe allowed to last longer than one constant duration time slot. A timedivision duplex scheme would be used to facilitate full duplextransmission. Methods of writing data onto a TM-UWB wireless template,or fiber optic carrier are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,952,956 and5,363,108 to Fullerton et al., and in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,832,035,5,812,081, 5,677,927 to Fullerton and are incorporated by reference.

When a TM-UWB signal is used to broadcast digitally encoded informationin a public format in which the repeating, complex coded pulse frequencyhopping scheme is known, it may be desirable and more efficient tobroadcast the digitally encoded information using a differentialwireless information format (DWIF). A structured linear database enableddevice would be set to use the public frequency hoping sequence. In eachtime domain two pulses would be broadcast on the same frequency atdifferent times. The first pulse would be the benchmark against whichthe second pulse's position could be compared to. As an example, if thedifference in start position of the two pulses were 150 pico-seconds thevalue represented would be 0. Similarly, if the difference in startposition of the two pulses were 300 pico-seconds the value representedwould be 1. If there were no second pulse, the particular time domainwould not contain any information. In this way, no decoding templatewould be needed to extract information contained in the structuredlinear database.

Pulses 30,010,001 to 30,010,500 defines a subdivision reserved for thetailbit. The tailbit signals the end of the structured linear database.

Chart 3 is an example of a decoding template used to access some of thepersonal data stored within one of the data storage subdivisions asshown in Chart 2.

Chart 3

PULSE NUMBER (Start-End) FIELD 28,010,001 to 28,000,050 First Name28,000,051 to 28,000,100 Last Name 28,000,101 to 28,000,150 Street28,000,151 to 28,000,200 City 28,000,201 to 28,000,220 State 28,000,221to 28,000,230 Zip Code 28,000,231 to 28,000,250 Home Telephone28,000,251 to 28,000,300 E-mail Address 28,000,301 to 28,000,350 BirthDate

Note, the pulse numbers shown in Chart 2 are used for illustrativepurposes only. The number of pulses in each field are reserved anddependent upon the amount of space required for that field.

Chart 3 is an example of some personal information stored within a datastorage subdivision of a personal structured linear database that maydecoded using this template. It is very important to note, by using thisdecoding template contained within a structured linear database, anyenabled device that is configured to use LDB 121, as shown in FIG. 1,can access data directly contained within the structured lineardatabase.

Other types of personal information may include, but are not limited tomedical records, financial records, a digital image of the user, etc.

Chart 4 is an example of a proposed standardized data transmission andstorage decoding template to access business data stored within astructured linear database.

Chart 4

PULSE NUMBER (Start-End) FIELD 1,000,001 to 1,000,050 First Record No.1,000,051 to 1,000,100 Customer 1,000,101 to 1,000,150 Customer OrderNo. 1,000,151 to 1,000,200 Shop Order No. 1,000,201 to 1,000,220 PartNo. 1,000,221 to 1,000,250 Lot No. 1,000,251 to 1,000,270 Quantity Due1,000,271 to 1,000,300 Due Date 1,000,301 to 1,005,000 Certifications1,005,001 to 1,007,000 Shipping Instructions 1,007,001 to 1,007,050Second Record No. 1,007,051 to 1,007,100 Customer 1,007,101 to 1,007,150Customer Order No. 1,007,151 to 1,007,200 Shop Order No. 1,007,201 to1,007,220 Part No. 1,007,221 to 1,007,250 Lot No. 1,007,251 to 1,007,270Quantity Due 1,007,271 to 1,007,300 Due Date 1,007,301 to 1,012,000Certifications 1,012,001 to 1,014,000 Shipping Instructions    1,014,000 to (1,000,001 + Third Record No. N × 7000) Through “N” RecordNo. Customer Customer Order No. Shop Order No. Part No. Lot No. QuantityDue Due Date Certifications Shipping Instructions

Note, the pulse numbers shown in Chart 4 are used for illustrativepurposes only. The number of pulses in each field are reserved and theactual number of pulses present is dependent upon the amount of spacerequired for that field.

Chart 4 details a linear structure for repeating data that typicallyresides in a relational database. -A standard relational database storesdata in a two-dimensional array. A structured linear database can storethe same data in a repeating, one-dimensional, pre-packetized format. Ina structured linear database that is formatted for storing and accessingrepeating data fields, the decoding template identifies the followinginformation required to decode the data:

-   1) The field name of each subdivision for a single record-   2) The pulse start and end position for each field name in the    linear database for a single record

Mathematically, the pulse positions and corresponding field names forall remaining records can be determined.

Extensible Markup Language (XML for short) is a computer languagedesigned to make information self-describing by adding tags oridentifiers to each piece of data. A structured linear databaseaccomplishes the same objective XML does by a different method,information becomes self-describing when its data is decodable by itsposition in a structured linear database.

The unifying power of XML arises from a few well-chosen rules. One isthat tags almost always come in pairs. Like parentheses, they surroundthe text to which they apply. And like quotation marks, tag pairs can benested inside one another to multiple levels.

The nesting rule automatically forces a certain simplicity on every XMLdocument, which takes on the structure known in computer science as atree. As with a genealogical tree, each graphic and bit of text in thedocument represents a parent, child or sibling of some other element;relationships are unambiguous. Trees cannot represent every kind ofinformation, but they can represent most kinds that we need computers tounderstand. Trees, moreover, are extraordinarily convenient forprogrammers. If your bank statement is in the form of a tree, it is asimple matter to write a bit of software that will reorder thetransactions or display just the cleared checks.

It is very important to note, by using a decoding template containedwithin a structured linear database, any enabled device can access datadirectly contained within the structured linear database whether or notthat data is tagged. When structured linear databases are usedspecifically for universal data interchange, the LFAT, which is used todecode data contained in the structured linear database, can in somecases supplant XML (Extensible Markup Language), and in most casesenhance XML because the need to tag each individual data element is nolonger required.

In a fiber optic/TM-UWB network there is a problem of generating,storing, and telecommunicating the repeating, complex coded pulsestructure that can be digitally encoded using the principle of pulseposition modulation (advancing and retarding a pulse's expected positionin time to represent binary coded information). Since fiber optic andTM-UWB networks are extremely secure and have a very high speed, itwould be efficient to tag each pulse with its TM-UWB start position andbroadcast frequency. While this may be extraneous information on fiber,it eliminates the need for complicated computing and the extratelecommunications required to set up the repeating, complex coded pulsestructure, so that a structured linear database can be transmitted andreceived at wireless points of presence. By knowing a pulse's startposition and detecting its encoded position, the decoding can beaccomplished mathematically without writing a separate template. Thefollowing chart is an example of a tagged, wireless broadcast formatted(TWBF) pulse which uses two sixteen bit tags. The first tag is for thepulse's start position, and the second tag is for the broadcastfrequency.

PULSE POSTION PULSE START BROADCAST MODULATED FORMAT POSITION FREQUENCYPULSE Digital 001100011010010 110010011001 Neutral, 0, or 1 Base 10 63543225 Neutral, 0, or 1

In this example, the numeric value for the pulse start position could bethe actual start position in distance from the beginning of each timedomain, or could be used to drive the following algorithm to determinethe pulse start position:START TIME OF PULSE POSITION BROADCAST=(PULSE START POSITIONVALUE)×(DISTANCE FACTOR)

The broadcast frequency numeric value is used to drive a look-up tablethat relates to the value of the actual broadcast frequency. As anexample, the numeric value for the broadcast frequency in Chart 1 of3225 would equate to an actual broadcast frequency of 8.325 GHz.

If the master template is always generated on fiber, the tagged wirelessbroadcast format information could be stripped from the TM-UWB wirelesslink telecommunication packet. This would allow more relevant data to bebroadcast wirelessly to a structured linear database enabled device.

When a TM-UWB signal is used to broadcast digitally encoded informationin a public format in which the repeating, complex coded pulse frequencyhopping scheme is known, it may be desirable and more efficient tobroadcast the digitally encoded information using a differentialwireless information format (DWIF). A structured linear database enableddevice would be set to use the public frequency hoping sequence. In eachtime domain two pulses would be broadcast on the same frequency atdifferent times. The first pulse would be the benchmark against whichthe second pulse's position could be compared to. As-an example, if thedifference in start position of the two pulses were 150 pico-seconds thevalue represented would be 0. Similarly, if the difference in startposition of the two pulses were 300 pico-seconds the value representedwould be 1. If there were no second pulse, the particular time domainwould not contain any information. In this way, no decoding templatewould be needed to extract information contained in the structuredlinear database.

A structured linear database enabled device can perform all thefunctions of a Bluetooth enabled device, and even better than thefollowing important operational features. A structured linear databaseenabled device will have a greater range of several kilometers vs. themaximum range of 100 meters for a Bluetooth enabled device. A structuredlinear database enabled device will be capable of performing both shortand long range wireless functions into one technology. A structuredlinear database enabled device will be able to telecommunicate data atspeeds of ten to 60 Mb/sec vs. the maximum speed of 732 kb/sec for aBluetooth enabled device. A structured linear database isself-encrypting vs. the need for a Bluetooth enabled device tointentionally scramble and descramble data. A structured linear databaseis self-authenticating. And finally a structured linear database isbuilt on a single layer protocol vs. the more complicated multi-layerprotocol of Bluetooth.

Another implication of structured linear databases is they provide ameans for an open e-mail format. As described earlier, structured lineardatabases enabled devices use a set of rules organized in a datainterface to reformat the data that is contained with the structuredlinear database automatically for display, or use by each enableddevice. As an example, Microsoft Outlook98's e-mail interface onlyprovides for the following significant information:

-   1) TO:-   2) CC:-   3) BC:-   4) SUBJECT:

All other information is text based and insignificant.

The following is an example of a simple hotel bill which willdemonstrate the power of a structured linear database using a “e-mailtype” data interface. Any structured linear database enabled device willbe able to create, code, “e-mail”, decode, and display the followingsignificant information:

-   1) TO:-   2) ADDRESS:-   3) PHONE-   4) FROM:-   5) DATE OF ARRIVAL:-   6) DATE OF DEPARTURE:-   7) LIST OF CHARGES-   8) ROOM NO.-   9) CAR TYPE-   10) CAR LICENSE NO.-   11) CREDIT CARD-TYPE-   12) CREDIT CARD NO.-   13) EXPIRATION DATE

Once received, the customer could dynamically use the information tocomplete a travel expense report for his company's accountingdepartment, etc., by accessing the data as known stored “e-mail type”data.

Structured linear databases eliminate the need for separate e-mailservers, and allow for a wide variety of new standard and custom e-mailformats to be designed. The information contained in the e-mail will besignificant.

Warranties, any bill, contracts, could all be e-mailed to a customer'sstructured linear database where they would reside as part of a user'spersonal data stream within a structured linear database.

Businesses and industries, which currently employ bar codes and/or RFIDcould use the present invention as a replacement technology. Some of theuses of bar codes and/or RFID are, but not limited to, productidentification, location information, work-in-progress control,tracking, shipping, warehouse management, and material movement.Computers can utilize the present invention to inter-change data for usewith any software application that is programmed to identify the datastructure that is being accessed.

The transceiver/processor may be contained in such devices as, but notlimited to, an RFID tag, a cell phone, a computer, a personal dataassistant (PDA) or other devices.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)- Small, credit card size portabledatabases that can be “read only”, or “read write” from only a shortdistance (less than 100′) using RFID interrogation equipment. The RFIDtags may use a battery for power, or radiated energy from theinterrogator. RFID equipment is being used for Automatic Identificationand Data Capture. RFID technology includes, but not limited to, “smartcards”.

Currently computers access and use information in many differentproprietary formats. The sharing and communication problems thatcurrently exist between these differing formats can be overcome usingstructured linear digital databases. Any computer, operating system, orsoftware application can be coded to query the structured lineardatabases using a set of drivers. These drivers can access thealpha-numeric code identifier that unlocks the field name, length offield in pluses, and the starting pulse number in the field. This willallow differing proprietary formats to communicate with each otherseamlessly, securely, and at a high rate of speed.

Other benefits of patents related to linear databases include:

-   1) Self-routing telecommunications-   2) Faster computing speeds-   3) Faster telecommunications speeds-   4) Fewer computing errors-   5) Fewer telecommunication errors-   6) New number base for digital computing-   7) New number base for digital telecommunication

A general description of the present invention as well as a preferredembodiment of the present invention has been set forth above. Thoseskilled in the art to which the present invention pertains willrecognize and be able to practice additional variations in the methodsand systems described which fall within the teachings of this invention.

Accordingly, all such modifications and additions are deemed to bewithin the scope of the invention which is to be limited only bythe-claims appended hereto.

1. A method for communications, comprising: receiving a datatransmission transmitted using ultra wideband over a hard-wired medium;accessing data within the transmission using a communication protocolthat defines a time position of data within the data transmission basedon type of data; wherein the data transmission comprises at least onestructured linear database formed by (a) dividing a data storage spaceinto a plurality of subdivisions, (b) assigning field names to each ofthe plurality of subdivisions, (c) associating position information forlocating each of the plurality of subdivisions with each of the fieldnames, and (d) forming a linear file allocation table, the tableincluding the field names and the position information; wherein the stepof accessing being performed by using the linear file allocation tableto determine the time position of data within the data transmission. 2.A method of communications, comprising: organizing data for transmissionusing a structured linear database for storage and communication byforming a structured linear database on a computer-readable storagemedium by: (a) dividing a data storage space on the computer-readablestorage medium into a plurality of subdivisions, (b) assigning fieldnames to each of the plurality of subdivisions, (c) associating positioninformation for locating each of the plurality of subdivisions with eachof the field names, and (d) forming a linear file allocation tablewithin the data storage space, the table including the field names andthe position information; preparing the structured linear database fortransmission by (a) associating pulse start and end positions for eachof the plurality of field names according to associated positioninformation, and (b) transmitting the structured linear database betweena device and a communications channel interface; and communicating thestructured linear database across a communications channel associatedwith the communications channel interface.
 3. The method of claim 2wherein each of the plurality of subdivisions is of constant length. 4.The method of claim 2 wherein the dividing the data storage space on thecomputer-readable storage medium into the plurality of subdivisionsbeing performing according to a template.
 5. The method of claim 2wherein the data is streaming data.
 6. The method of claim 2 wherein thedata is non-streaming data.
 7. The method of claim 2 wherein thecomputer-readable storage medium being a part of an electronic devicehaving a telecommunications interface.
 8. The method of claim 2 furthercomprising accessing data within one of the plurality of subdivisions bylocating the subdivision using the table.
 9. The method of claim 2wherein the structured linear database defines a communicationsprotocol.
 10. The method of claim 2 wherein the structured lineardatabase defines both a communications protocol and a file system. 11.The method of claim 2 wherein the structured linear database istransmitted over a fiber optic system.